Indicator



o. s. HERSHEY INDICATOR Filed March 13, 19.30

UNITED STA ORVILLE S. .HERSHEY, OF WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOOAKES'PRODU'CTS'COR- Patented Oct. 27 1931 res PATENT [OFF] PORATION, OFNORTH cnroaoo, ILLINOIsA CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN I INDICATOR Applicationfiled March 13,1930 Serial No. 435,422.;

This invention relatesito anindicator in which is comprised a series ofindependently rotatable wheels carrying on their peripheries digits,anyselected combination of which may be exposed to view through an aperturein the housing wherein the wheels are mounted. More particularlytheinvention relates to a .means for locking the wheels against accidentalor casual movement from a given position of adjustment, and to anoperating means therefor. An instrument of this character may be used toadvantage in connection with the oiling and greasing o erations of anautomobile, and it may be esigned for convenient mounting therein, aswithin the ball of a gear shift lever or upon the dash board of avehicle, whereby to apprise constantlythe operator respecting mileagesat which lubricating operations should be performed.

Asuggestive embodiment of this invention is set forth in theaccompanying drawingsin the following manner:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a gear shift lever ball containing theindicator mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken as indicated by theline 2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a'transverse sectionthrough Fig. 2 as indicated by the line 3;

Fig. 4 isa sectional view taken as indicated bylthe line 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the key and spring clip assembly;

vFig. v(ishows the indicator modified to the extent of being mounted onthe dash board of an automobile; and 'Fig. 7 showsa modified arrangementof theindi'cator in the ball.

The present indicator mechanism may be contained within a ball handle Asuch asis fitted upon the end of a gear shift lever B. As shown, itincludes an indicating barrel assembly C fitted in the ball in a mannerto shift lengthwise therein. Through the ball is formed a transversebore 9 enlarged at ne end to accommodate a knurled head 10 forming partof the barrel assembly. A groove 11 may beformed in the handle parallelto the axisof the bore to receive a. key12 the ends of which areprovided with transversely extended jaws 13 which engage opposite pointson the ball to hold the key in place. The key is further provided with ashoulder 14 adjacent a neck 15, the purpose of which will be explainedlater. The key maybe provided with a hole 16 to receive one end of aspring clip 17 having a detent 18 for holding the barrel assembly inapredetermined position. a recess 19 which is formed alongside thegroove 11, as seen in Fig. 2. An opening 20 formed in the top ofthe-ball is covered by a celluloid window 21 which is so. mounted as toprotect the indicator within the ball.

The spring clip lies in p forms ahousing .for the indicating mechanism.At the. outer end of the sleeve is mounted the barrel head 10. which isheld in place on a stem 28 by a transverse pin 29. The stem 28 isrotatably carried by the body of the barrel. v

Rotatablymounted on the stem is a series of .wheels30, each providedwith a disk 31 which is connected thereto upon one face. .The

disks which are of greater diameter than the wheels are notched at '32to receive ,engagement from the key 12. I Upon each wheel is carried,marked or impressed a series of digits, from- 0 to 9,'by preference, anyone of which may be moved into register with the windowopening 20; Sothat each wheel-may tend to rotate with the stem, I provide-for each aspring 35 set into an opening 36 in the wheel'in position to engage withthe stem.

The key is received in part within a groove 37 in the barrel,complementary to the handle I 1 groove 11. Transversely disposed to.these grooves are sockets 38 adapted to receive the detent 18 on thespring clip 17 so as to hold the barrelreleasably in the desiredposition for advancing certain of the wheels 30. In Fig. 3, the barrelis shown as in the normal position wherein thekey engages each of thedisks 31. From this position the barrel may he slid partly out. of theball in response to pressure applied to the end of its body, the head 10being then in position for rotation, as

part novelty thereto.

shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the key is released from contactwith several of the disks when the barrel is as positioned. The key neck15 is of such length that when the barrel is moved to the extremeposition (the right as viewed in Fig. 4) all the disks are released fromthe key, so that *the frictional contact obtaining between the stem andwheels will cause the wheels and disks to turn with rotation of thebarrel head. An opening39 in thesleeve 26 registers wzthathe window 21so that a single row of digits, one on each wheel, is exposed to View. Astop pin 40 is inserted in the barrel to limit its outward movement bycontactw'ith one end of the windowopening.

A modified form of the ,houslng for the present indicatoris shownin'Fig. 6 in which the barrel C and its operating mechanism areidentical with that just described. In this construction the housing Aisso shaped as to be attached to the dash board D of an automobile. Thismodification is ,suggestlve of various places. and conditions inwhich/my indicator may be .used with advantage.

A further modified form is shown in Flg. 7 which is similar to theconstruction first described .except that the windowopening 20 extendsthrough vto one edge of the ball housing A, and a block 40 is formedupon the sleeve 26 to occupy the open space .at the end of the windowopening when the barrel isreturned to .itsnormal position. The celluloidwindow :21 is attached :to and moves with the barrel in its shiftingmovements. In this form, the various digits in .a single ,row will atall times be exposed to view.

The present construction is such that the numbered wheels, when set to adesired position, may not .be accidentally moved therefrom.Ghangin'gzthe position ofthese wheels may be accomplished only when thebarrel has been moved to extend beyond theconfines of the housing. Theextent to which the barrel is projected from its normal position willdetermine which, or how many, of the numbered wheels will turn with thebarrel aplained.

From the preceding description, it wil :be manifest that the presentinvention is 'ad- *vantageoum' because of the compact constructionof itspart, the simplicity of their operation, and the positive character ofthe means for holding the numbered wheels in a predetermined position. Idesire .in accordance with the terms of the claims follow ingto beprotected in this invention, whether or not the embodiment thereof :beas illustrated and described, or modified therefrom, without sacrificeof the features which im- I claim:

1. In an indicator, the combination of a body having a through openingcommunicating with a second opening in one face of the body, a wheelwith peripheral numbers mounted for axial movement in the throughopening and adapted in one axial-position to expose a single numberthrough the second opening, means engaging the wheel, when in theposition noted, to lock the same against rotation, the wheel being freedfor rotative adjustment only when shifted to another position, andoperating means in yielding fric tional connection with the wheel andprotruding exteriorly of the through opening for manipulation. to adjustthe wheel when the wheel is shiftedto adjusting position.

12.. In an indicator, the combination of a mountings plurality ofco-axial independently movable numbered wheels disposed within themounting and movable axially thereimmeans connecting the several wheelsin unitary relation, manipulating means for theseveral wheels locatedbeyond one endof .an outermost wheel, andlocking means co-actingwith-allof the wheels only when the latter are in one axial position,permitting rotation of one or more wheels only when the latter areshifted axiallyto a position free ofsaid lockin gr means.

An indicating mechanism comprising a mounting with twocommunicatingopenings in oneof which is contained v a barrel havingindicating Wheels, the barrel being axially movable to one position inwhich the wheels are adjustable and to a second position in which thewheelsare looked, a portionofieach wheel being visible through theremaining .openingwhen the barrel is in-one position.

a. An indicating mechanism comprising a grooved mounting movablysupporting a grooved barrel having adjustable indicating units, .a keydisposed in the .two grooycs to lock the barrel units against rotationwhen the barrel is in-one position, and meanslat one end of the barrelin connection with :the-sev eral unit-s adapted to adjust the same whenthe barrel is in a second position.

In combinatiomabodyhavingabore and a groove. a barrel mounted for axial.movement within the bore, indicating wheels associated with the barrel,means for rotating the indicating wheels, and means co-acting with oneor more of the wheels depending upon the longitudinal position of thebarrel for locking .the wheels vagainst rotation.

,6. In an indicator, the combination of a body having a passageway and asightopening communicating therewith, a rotatable supporting membershiftable axially in said passageway, an indicating wheel mounted onsaid supporting member to .move axially therewith and adapted in oneaxial position to be exposed through said sight opening, means withinsaid passageway for engaging lUO I said wheel to prevent rotationthereof when said supporting memberis in an inner position in saidpassageway, and a frictlonal connection between said supporting memberand wheel whereby said wheel may be rotated by said supporting memberafter said supportin member has been shifted outwardly to re case saidwheel from said rotation preventing means.

7. In an indicator, the combination of a housing having a passageway, arotatable operating member shiftable axially in said passageway, a rowof indicating wheels mounted on said operating member and having fric-vtional driving connection with said member, stop means within saidpassageway engaging with said wheels when said operating member is inits inner position to thereby prevent rotation of said wheels with saidmember, said wheels being successively released from said stop means forrotation with said member when said member is shifted outwardly. s a

8. In an. indicator, the combination of a bodv having a passageway, arotatable operating member shiftable axially in said passageway andhaving an' operating head. said member and its head being normallventirely within said passagewava row of indicating wheels mounted onsaid member and each having frictional driving connection' therewith,and a stop engaging said wheels to prevent rotation thereof with saidmember when said member is in its inner position within said passageway,there being a sight opening in said body communicating with saidpassageway through which the indications on said wheels may be read,outward movement of said member progressively releasing the wheels fromsaid stop for rotation with said member.

9. In indicating mechanism, the combination of a housing having apassageway therethrough, a rotatable operating member having anoperating head, said member with its head being normally entirely withinsaid'passageway to form a closure for the ends thereof, a row ofindicating wheels on said mem-,

ber each having frictional drive connection therewith, and stop meansengaging with said wheels when said member is in its normal positionwithin said passageway whereby said wheels are stopped from rotatingwith said member, said wheels being progressively released from saidstop means when said member is shifted outwardly to be then free torotate with said member, said hous ing having a sight opening throughwhich the indication on said wheels may be read. In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand this 18th day of December, 1929. ORVILLE S.HERSHEY.

